HORIZONS HIV Intervention (HORIZONS)

This study has been completed.

Sponsor:

Emory University

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00633906

First Posted: March 12, 2008

Last Update Posted: November 19, 2013

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government.
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1 hour group session consisting of an HIV prevention video, a question and answer session with an African American woman health educator, and participation in a group discussion about how to avoid acquiring HIV.

Detailed Description:

African-American adolescent females are a population at high risk for HIV infection. Recent findings suggest that culturally and gender appropriate HIV interventions can significantly reduce HIV-associated sexual risk behaviors among this vulnerable population. The Horizons HIV intervention was developed for African-American female adolescents attending reproductive health clinics in Atlanta, GA. The specific objectives were:

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HORIZONS HIV intervention plus standard of care counseling to the standard of care counseling alone with respect to reducing risky sexual behavior and averting incident STDs.

715 participants, ages 15-21, were recruited and enrolled at a large urban county health department, a teen clinic in a public hospital and a reproductive health clinic in the Atlanta area. After a computer interview assessing adolescents' sexual risk and preventive behaviors, and STD testing (Chlamydia and gonorrhea), participants were randomized to one of 2 conditions: the HORIZONS Intervention or the Standard-of-care counseling group. Two trained female health educators lead the 2-session HORIZONS intervention which addressed gender and ethnic pride issues, STD/HIV knowledge, assertive partner communication and refusal skills, and role-play practice. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Theory of Gender and Power were complementary theoretical frameworks guiding the design and implementation of the HIV intervention. To supplement this group intervention, four phone contacts delivered by the original health educator were conducted during the follow-up period. The supplemental contacts reinforced workshop materials with an individually tailored plan for each participant. The control group received tracking calls only. Follow-up assessments identical to the baseline were conducted at 6 and 12-months post-randomization.

Eligibility

Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:

15 Years to 21 Years (Child, Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Female

African American

Ages 15-21

Receiving care at participating clinic

Vaginal sex in the past 60 days

Ability to give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Married

Pregnant

In a detention center

Contacts and Locations

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00633906